Becoming a priest or a man or woman religious is not primarily our own decision.... Rather it is the response to a call and to a call of love.

—Pope Francis, Address to Seminarians and Novices, July 6, 2013

What is the Sacrament of Holy Orders?

Persons of good character with the calling of the Holy Spirit are formed by the Church to serve the Church in leadership, to care for the lost , to the proclamation of the Word and to the Liturgy and Sacraments. Holy Orders is the sacrament in which Jesus acts to receive people into the ministry of the deacon, the priest or the Bishop of the Church.

Those who believe that the Holy Spirit is calling them to Holy Orders follow a prescribed course in the study of theology, scripture, and tradition after having been received by a Bishop or Superior of a community as candidates for the ministry. Having completed the process of formation for ordination, the candidate for priesthood or diaconate is called by a Bishop from the community of the faithful to the reception of Holy Orders. A bishop receives the order of Episcopacy when he is chosen by the Pope and ordained for that office. Catholics believe that those who are called to ministry and ordained are united with the ministry of Jesus. Catholics further believe that those who are ordained are empowered to minister for the Church and in the world in Jesus’ name.

Currently only men are called to orders in the Roman Catholic Church.

The ordinary minister of Holy Orders is a Bishop. Usually the Sacrament of Holy Orders for priests or deacons will be conferred annually at a special liturgy for ordination. Most ordinations take place in a Cathedral. Our Cathedral is in Indianapolis, SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Anyone who wishes may attend the ordination ceremonies.The liturgy for the ordination of a Bishop takes place usually within 90 days of the appointment by the Pope of the new Bishop.

At those times when a new Bishop is appointed to our Archdiocese, he will either be ordained a Bishop in our Cathedral, or if he is already a Bishop will be received at the Cathedral. Normally, attending the ordination of a Bishop is by invitation.

What is the difference between a priest and deacon?

A deacon is called to service in the name of the Church. Permanent deacons are men who have been called by the Church to Holy Orders. The Deacon is to be a sign of Christ’s serving mission, especially the service to the poor. The Deacon will also instruct the faithful through Catechesis and preaching. He may also minister all the sacraments sacraments except those reserved to priests.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the diaconate is the first of three ranks in ordained ministry. Deacons preparing for the priesthood are transitional deacons. Those not planning to be ordained priests are called permanent deacons. Married men may be ordained permanent deacons, and single men may be ordained with a commitment to celibacy.

A transitional deacon is a celibate man who has been ordained a deacon and who intends to become a priest.Transitional deacons are usually ordained to the diaconate after they complete their third year at the theological seminary.

Are there any sacraments that a bishop can minister?

A bishop is the ordinary minister of Holy Orders. He is also the ordinary minister of Confirmation, although at times he may designate a priest to be the minister of Confirmation in a parish, for example when a person is confirmed after being baptized as part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.